Former flyweight champion Charlie Edwards will make both his Queensberry and bantamweight debut on September 26th, taking on Kyle Williams as part of the Josh Taylor vs Apinun Khongsong ESPN+ card in London.
Edwards (15-1, 6 KO) has not fought since his wild No Contest with Julio Cesar Martinez last August, in which he took a knee after a sustained flurry and ate a fight-ending body shot while down. He retained his WBC flyweight belt, taken from Cristofer Rosales, but elected to vacate, claiming an inability to comfortably make weight anymore. The mean-spirited part of me, which I’ll admit is the majority, finds it telling that Edwards put two whole weight classes between himself and a rematch.
The Croydon man said: “I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring. It feels like it’s been a long time coming.
“I have had 12 months out, but I have developed more than I did even when I was a world champion.
“My life away from boxing could not be any better. I am settled in a new home, I have got engaged and in January I will become a Dad.
“I have never been in such a good place mentally, physically and emotionally.
“Obviously I am not world class yet at Bantamweight and that might take time, but Kyle is a very decent opponent after so long out.
“I’m looking forward to putting on a show against a great fighter. This fight is a fantastic domestic clash.
“It would be great to have fans there, but I’ve had similar experiences as an amateur. I once boxed in a 30,000 capacity arena in Azerbaijan with 20 people there at a World Championship qualifier.”
Williams (11-2, 3 KO) has lost two of his last three, falling to Ukashir Farooq by fifth-round stoppage and most recently dropping a split decision to an overweight Ionut Baluta last October. Edwards, technically unbeaten since a 2016 mauling from John Riel Casimero and who was initially expected to return on April 18th, figures to be a prohibitive favorite.
The card will also feature unbeaten Willy Hutchinson (11-0, 7 KO) against TBA, assuming “Braveheart” comes out of tomorrow’s gimme against Ben Thomas sufficiently unscathed. Super bantamweight David Oliver Joyce (12-1, 9 KO), last seen retiring Lee Haskins in February, faces the aforementioned Baluta (13-2, 2 KO), who scored one of the year’s biggest shockers in March with a decision over TJ Doheny.
Finally, George Davey (2-0, 0 KO) fights Jeff Thomas (12-7-3, 1 KO) and Ethan James (3-0, 0 KO) gives TBA two fights in one night.